SACRAMENTO, CA - The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival may not be able to come back next season after tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment was stolenTuesday night.

During its 27-year run in Sacramento, this is the first time the festival was burglarized, Festival Board Member Lori Ann DeLappe-Grondin said. The thieves stole technical lighting and sound equipment that is used to produce the performances and could hinder producing next year's festival.

"This unfortunate event may affect our ability to continue bringing Shakespeare to Sacramento," DeLappe-Grondin said. "We will continue to produce the remainder of our season with some changes."

The equipment also belonged to the Sac City College, who operates the festival, and will also suffer because of the theft.

"We are reaching out to our community for support to complete our season and protect the future of our festival and the arts in Sacramento," DeLappe-Grondin said. "We are looking for ticket sales and donations to help us through this crisis."

Remaining performances of the season - July 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, & 29 - will begin at 6 p.m. so they can be performed in the lights. Gates for performances will open at 5 p.m., while the box office will open at 4:30 p.m.

The festival is held in William Land Park at the William Caroll Amphitheater, behind Fairytale Town.